The cemetery was pitch black at night. Perhaps it was just an illusion, but it felt colder inside the cemetery than outside.
Faced with the unknown fear, a chill ran from Winifred’s feet up to her spine. This fear nearly squeezed out her soul. Her body was out of control; even when Leland put her down, she clung to him like a vine, as if only by doing so could she avoid collapsing.
For the first time, she held Leland’s hand so tightly and pleaded earnestly.
“I don’t want to know. I want to go back. Leland, please take me back. I hate Gregory. I despise him. He caused my mother’s death. We are not related by blood. I don’t want to see him.”
Gregory’s photo on the tombstone was taken from a financial magazine. He was dressed in a suit, looking confident and spirited.
In fact, Winifred did resemble Gregory somewhat, especially their eyes, both having double eyelids and almond shapes.
When Gregory died, it was Garrison who brought the news to her. At that time, Winifred merely responded with an “Mm,” showing neither joy nor sorrow, as if the deceased were a stranger rather than her father.
Garrison had asked if she wanted to return for Gregory’s funeral.
Winifred refused. Firstly, she didn’t want to return and encounter Leland; she wanted to avoid him. Secondly, she restrained her feelings for Gregory. After seeing the DNA test report, Winifred no longer considered him her father.
Could she really have no father-daughter feelings for Gregory? Impossible. Eighteen years-one could consider even a dog family after that long, let alone a person.
Although Gregory hadn’t fulfilled his responsibilities as a father, she had grown up healthy, enjoying wealth and comfort without worries-all thanks to him.
Looking at the black-and-white photo on the tombstone, Winifred realized it had been over a year since she’d seen Gregory. She had deliberately avoided any news or photos of him, thinking that such a long time would be enough to forget him as if he were just a deceased “acquaintance.”
But now, seeing it again reminded her of what Leland had told her before: Gregory had left most of his estate to her and had wanted to see her one last time before he died.
Winifred felt a sharp pain in her chest and turned away from the tombstone.
She couldn’t understand why Leland had suddenly brought her here or why he asked how Gregory had died.
She wasn’t stupid; she could guess from Leland’s question that Gregory’s death might be related to her.
Winifred didn’t want to think about it; she just wanted to leave quickly. Seeing Leland standing still like a statue, Winifred bit her lip and shakily let go of his hand, trying to stand up and leave. But before she could take a step, Leland grabbed her neck and dragged her in front of the tombstone.
Leland’s grip was strong, pressing down on her shoulders. Winifred’s body was already weak; standing straight was difficult enough without being pressed down. Her legs gave way as she was forced to kneel, almost hitting her head on the tombstone.
Leland bent down and held her head in place. “Where do you think you’re going? I haven’t finished talking.”
“I don’t want to hear it.”
“You don’t have a choice today. In front of your father’s grave, I’m going to tell you everything. Winifred, have you always thought that you and your father were not related by blood? That he wasn’t your biological father?”
Wasn’t that true? When Aubrey told her those things, she believed them partially. Later, she had Leland take their hair samples for DNA testing. The results showed no blood relation between them. If there were any relation, she wouldn’t have left Peachshire Town with Garrison and gone abroad.
But she overlooked one thing: throughout the testing process, she had entrusted everything to Leland. At that time, she considered Leland her most loyal follower and trusted him completely.
Struggling to lift her head, Winifred saw Leland’s terrifying face in the darkness. His eyes held a mocking triumph that only Winifred could understand.
Leland’s mouth moved as he revealed the truth from years ago.
“I switched the DNA test results back then. Gregory is your biological father. Surprised? There’s more: the poison you secretly gave your father is what killed him. He died from poisoning. Poor man-he never knew that his beloved daughter was the one who killed him. Even on his deathbed, he kept thinking about you and wanting to see you one last time while you were eloping with Garrison and refused even to attend his funeral.”
As Leland spoke these words, Winifred clenched her hands tightly until her nails dug into her palms. The pain took its time arriving; only when a cold wind blew did Winifred feel it spreading through her body like a tearing sensation with each breath.
The result she least wanted to accept had appeared before her eyes. She wanted to refute Leland and not believe his words.
But when she met Leland’s gaze, she knew he wasn’t lying; everything he said was true.
Her neck went limp as if unable to support her head anymore; she lowered it while glancing at the photo on the tombstone.
“Why?”
“Winifred, have you forgotten how my mother died? An eye for an eye-you’ve taken so many lives; why care about your father’s?” Leland released her neck and stood up straight, dusting off his hands.
Winifred collapsed entirely onto the ground-a grand scheme indeed. All those years when Leland obediently stayed by her side were likely spent waiting for this moment.
She had caused him to lose his mother; in return, he made sure she indirectly killed her biological father.
When she handed over two strands of hair for testing and watched herself serve poisoned milk to Gregory daily-was Leland hiding in the shadows mocking her?
Winifred smiled-a beautiful smile on an exquisite face transitioning from sorrowful peace into lifelessness devoid of any vitality or emotion as she raised one hand slowly towards the photo on the tombstone without speaking or crying-just staring at those three words: “Gregory’s Grave.”
A father’s tombstone should bear his children’s names but this one only had five short words:
-Gregory’s Grave
Thus ended this man’s brief life.